Oh, and then, even though he knew, Blenkinsop looked up at Sotherby and said:”So... Charles died so soon after the reunion? I read it in the newspaper...”
”Yes, it all came so sudden. A stroke. It's 11 years ago now.” Sotherby said. ”He managed to have at least a dozen children before that though. Not a single one with his wife. But he loved her.”
Blenkinsop smiled, they sat quiet. ”Did you ever marry, Sotherby?”
Sotherby looked up at him, and smiled, it was weak smile, a lying smile. ”What do you think?” He took a sip of his beer. ”I was madly in love. I tried, I tried so very hard to please him. But nothing, nothing ever worked.” He swallowed. ”You were lucky, Albert, lucky to love someone who loved you. You where lucky to have Maltravers, because even if it was from a distance, you always knew that he loved you.”

”Arsenal is rubbish.” Blenkinsop exclaimed and put the newspaper down. ”I still support them of course but they are really horrible. Aren't they, Ed?”
His grandson sat by his feet, and he painfully reminded him of his own youth, not that they looked anywhere near alike, no, but Ed was so alive, a happy and carefree boy. ”Rubbish.” Ed said and smiled. ”Utterly rubbish.”
”What are you two talking about?” Ed's father, Mr. Woodham, asked. He was a good man, Blenkinsop had decided. He was five years older than his Anne and had been at war, and that must mean that he was a good man.
”Arsenal.” Ed said. ”Grandfather and I have agreed that they are rubbish.” Mr. Woodham laughed.
”Yes they are rubbish this season, but it's time to go home, Ed.” Mr. Woodham said. ”Goodnight general.”
”Goodnight.” Blenkinsop said. Mr. Woodham left the room to help his wife and count the children. Ed was trying to get up from the floor when he heard his grandfather mutter something.
”What is it grandpa?”
”Nothing, nothing. But Ed, promise me to never waste your life.” Ed stared into the brown eyes but couldn't help to get distracted by the bushy white eyebrows. ”Ed, if you ever love someone do not care if it's right or wrong. Just love them. Because in the end that is all we have. Love. Right son?”
Ed nodded, there was something extremely sad in his grandfathers eyes. ”I promise grandpa. And I love you. Good night.” He kissed his cheek and joined his family in the hallway. His grandmother helped him to get his coat on.
Helen smiled, she loved her family. Her beautiful family, her pretty daughter and her handsome husband. ”Take care, children. And drive safe.” she told her son-in-law.
”Of course Helen. Say goodbye to grandmother now.” They kissed and they hugged each other. And Helen closed the door. And she locked it. And then she went back into the livingroom.
She didn't noticed at first, she thought that he was just resting, he usually did after the children had been over. ”Bertie, would you like to have fish or meat tomorrow.” She asked him when she had sat down, and continued to knit a scarf for Henry. And when he didn't react she asked again.
When she realized, when she touched her husband and didn't feel any pulse. When she realized that he was dead, then she could only cry. She cried and she hugged him. It was closest she ever got him. She hugged his body, but she had never succeeded in comforting his soul. Something she knew.
He had been a good man, she told the ambulance staff. ”A good man, a very good man.”
”He probably was, Mrs. Blenkinsop.”
”Yes, he never complained... or cared.”
And they carried him out. Out of his home, for the very last time.